Located in one of Taipei’s most expensive districts, this 40-year-old house was renovated a few years ago by the the owners’ family elders. However, the design did not meet the owners’ needs and made living troublesome and inconvenient. The owners pondered on the issue and decided to transform the house as a gift to their son (i.e., a home where he can live and grow up happily and comfortably) prior to his entrance to kindergarten.
The original house contained problems such as poor indoor layouts, dim lighting, small space, and a gas stove placed in the balcony (that made cooking and laundry hanging problematic). To solve these problems, the designer blended the study room with the public area, enlarging the living and dining rooms to create a spacious, open environment. Continuous windows were added to light up the views and the occupants’ hearts. Today, this space has become the mother’s favorite place to play and relax with her child and a location praised by her friends as oozing a relaxing atmosphere that is found only in coffee shops.
The front balcony was restored and added greenery to evoke a sense of comfort. Walls of the dimly lit kitchen have been torn down and replaced with a sliding glass door to create bright views, allowing the parents to see what their child is doing while cooking. The designer also moved the gas stove back to the kitchen, fulfilling the kitchen’s “purpose.” In addition, the designer added small tiles (which the owners love) and rustic elements, making the mother begin to cook for her son once again as she no longer has to worry about the cooking smells ruining the clothes.
The opening to the guest bathroom was subtly changed and placed at an angle that improved traffic flow and prevent the toilet from facing the kitchen. Furthermore, lemon and mosaic tiles were inserted to imbue the small bathroom with a sense of brightness and energy. Concerning the master bedroom, its pillars were used to build an independent dressing area, and the main bath door was altered to prevent it from facing the bedroom. A partition wall was pushed 60 cm outside to form as a wardrobe. Said changes made the sleeping space wider and much more comfortable.
